FOX Television Stations (FTS) has selected its new EVP of Engineering, Operations and Technology. It’s an individual who most recently oversaw long-term technology strategy and day-to-day operations for the Fox Network Center in Los Angeles and the Fox Technical Operations Center in The Woodlands, Texas.
Richard Friedel takes the post, reporting directly to CEO Jack Abernethy.
“It’s rare that you can pick up an All Star on waivers,” Abernethy said of Friedel. “We are very happy to have Richard lead our group and more importantly help drive our ATSC 3.0 efforts.”
Friedel added, “What an exciting opportunity this is to work with the FOX Television Stations team. I can’t wait to get started and move ATSC 3.0 from theory into practical implementation, a pivotal moment.”
Friedel’s initial role at Fox was the design and construction of Fox News Channel in 1996. Before joining Fox, Friedel served in various positions at Capital Cities/ABC, NBC News and local television stations.
Friedel is the former chairman of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and serves as President of the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) and the Video Services Forum (VSF). He is a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and a Life Member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society.
